How to Add Money to an Inmate's Account at Garza East Unit (and why you must be on their approved list)
If your deposit gets rejected, the reason is usually simple: you're not approved to send money for that inmate. Here's how the rule works at Garza East Unit and what to do next.
Before you try adding money to someone's trust fund account at Garza East Unit (TDCJ), there's one rule that trips people up. Effective September 1, 2020, only people on the inmate's approved visitor list or Inmate Telephone List can deposit money. This explains why someone who seems like they "should" be allowed to help (a friend, coworker, or extended family member) still gets blocked. The system checks those approved lists. If you're approved for visits or on the phone list, you're eligible to send funds. If not, you're out.
Why this matters: If you're not on the approved visitor list or Inmate Telephone List, your deposit can be rejected or sent back. Handle the approval piece first, then try the deposit.
Don't mail money directly to the unit. All trust fund deposits go through a separate process, not to the facility where your loved one is housed. Keep things separate: personal mail and other items should never be sent to the Inmate Trust Fund address.
Quick tip: Mailing the wrong thing to the wrong place leads to delays, returned items, or deposits that never post. Follow the Trust Fund instructions exactly and don't send deposits to the unit.
Most families discover the "approved sender" rule the hard way: they try to add commissary money and the deposit won't go through. The fix starts earlier in the process, with getting your relationship to the inmate recognized in the TDCJ system. One common approach is submitting a visitor to inmate relationship request through the TDCJ online visitation scheduler. Once you're approved and appear on the inmate's approved visitor list (or you're added to the Inmate Telephone List), you meet the September 1, 2020 rule requirements to deposit money.
- ✓ Have the inmate’s TDCJ or SID number ready. It must be 8 digits long.
- ✓ If you do not know the TDCJ or SID number, use the TDCJ Offender Search feature to look it up before you try to add the inmate to your visitation profile.
- Request relationship approval in the online visitation scheduler. When you add the inmate to your profile, enter the inmate’s 8-digit TDCJ or SID number. If you do not know it, find it using the TDCJ Offender Search feature.
- Confirm you are actually on the right list. Before you spend time and money attempting a deposit, verify with Garza East Unit that you are on the inmate’s approved visitor list or on the Inmate Telephone List.
- Make the deposit only after you are approved. Once you are confirmed on an approved list, use the accepted deposit channels. Do not mail deposits to the inmate’s facility of assignment.
Reminder: Approval comes first. Confirm you're on the inmate's approved visitor list or Inmate Telephone List before sending funds. Don't mail deposits to the facility.
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